Pot fillers are this season's biggest kitchen craze – and kitchen experts approve

Pot fillers, also known as kettle faucets, are having the moment they deserve – and we can't work out why these beautiful pieces haven't been in the forefront of our interiors forever. 

We're constantly searching to elevate our kitchens with chic accessories, but these stylish taps are also indisputably handy to have around and are making our cooking experiences feel instantly more seamless. 

See: Kitchen trends – new looks and innovations for cabinets, worktops and more

Plus, while we're drawn to pot filler taps for their multi-functionality, designers are drawn to their aesthetic, too. 

Why are pot filler taps the new kitchen must-have? 

Or, perhaps the real question is, why would pot fillers not be trending? Pot fillers, of sorts, are certainly no new phenomenon and have become increasingly popular in traditional American kitchens, where they are better known as a kettle faucet. 

However, designers and homeowners alike are becoming increasingly aware of a pot filler's stylish and functional assets, and we're struggling to imagine our kitchen without them. 

As Waterworks founder Barbara Sallick explains: 'Anyone who has ever staggered from sink to stove with a pot made heavy by gallons of liquid will appreciate the pleasures of the pot filler.

'These can be discreet and simple or as elaborate and flashy as something out of a Victorian firehouse. Whatever the case, a pot filler is a wonderfully worthwhile amenity,' she adds.

How to style pot fillers in a contemporary space  

While we revel in the benefits of a pot filler, we caught up with the experts at the top of the design industry who share how to bring this trend into our kitchen – in the most stylish way possible. 

1. View your pot filler as furniture – not as hardware  

'I love going with the antique look that almost looks like it should be on a piece of furniture. That's a heavenly combination with a built-in kitchen. [With pot fillers] there are so many wonderful things and finishes, antique brass looks beautiful in the kitchen,' says designer Henriette von Stockhausen, in her discussion with Barbara Sallick. 

'It gives it that warmth. It's much softer than chrome or nickel,' she adds. 

See: Kitchen ideas – decor and decorating ideas for all kitchens 

2. Accentuate the pot fillers luxe aesthetic 

Following the launch of their aged yet thoroughly modern pot filler, deVol encourages us to choose a pot filler with brassy hues that will add an element of luxury into your kitchen. 

'It is a luxury that may become indispensable,' begins deVOL's Creative Director, Helen Parker. 

'We hadn't even heard of these pot fillers five years ago, but the demand for this beautiful and functional tap has been confirmation enough to us that it's an absolute gem for the many amongst us who are happy to spend their weekends making huge pots of pasta for family and friends,' she adds. 

3. Remix metallic finishes 

While it is acceptable to create flow with pot fillers and the rest of our furnishings, Los Angeles-based designer Rande Leaman recommends 'switching things up' and mixing metallic finishings to create more interest. 

These color contrasts will allow the piece to stand as an unrivaled statement piece in the space and re-emphasize its position as luxe furniture, not an essential piece of hardware. 

See: Small kitchen ideas – designs for compact kitchens 

4. Use a pot filler beyond your kitchen 

Yes, it's true. These timeless furnishings have a use beyond the conventional walls of a kitchen, as Rande explains: 'We recently put one in the main bedroom [to create] a coffee and tea bar [which gave] the client access to water without going downstairs.' 

5. Consider practicalities

It's no secret that here at H&G, we've completely fallen for this timeless trend. But how does our Editor, Lucy Searle recommend styling pot fillers in a contemporary kitchen? 

'I'm quite focussed on functionality when it comes to kitchen design – I always want to get that right first, then consider aesthetics. So my tip for anyone considering adding a pot filler to their kitchen wishlist is to consider the following: its position – placed to the left or right of the cooking surface rather than right over it means it can be used to fill a pot without you having to reach across a stove – which may have other pots already heating on it; having it over the heat also means the tap itself can heat up and become hot to the touch.

'Pot fillers are usually fed by one water source: hot or cold. Consider carefully which would work for you best. I would choose hot for the way I cook, but that won't suit everyone. 

'Finally, lever or cross top handle (like the one above)? It may come down to aesthetics, and definitely comes down to personal preference, but I like a lever – they're easier to keep clean and to use when you're midway through a messy recipe.'

• See: Kitchen remodel ideas – makeover and renovations to inspire your next project

Now we know about the timeless glory of a pot filler, we imagine it will be hard to imagine our homes without one